A Guide to Ruby On Rails Outsourcing

Are you planning to take your Ruby on Rails (RoR) rapid development to the next level? If so, you may be looking for a highly specialized Ruby developer to help you out. 

However, with 85% of Ruby developers using RoR, finding the best talent would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Possible but nerve-racking. In that case, outsourcing RoR developers is the best option. 

The best RoR outsourcing companies have experts who help businesses achieve maximum success with Ruby on Rails development projects at a fraction of the cost. So, if you don’t have specialized RoR developers in your team, you should rely on outsourcing to build your next successful app. 

But what is the right way to get started? What should you focus on first?

In this comprehensive guide, we will answer all your questions to help you add only the best RoR developers to your team. Let’s explore everything you should know about RoR outsourcing. 

What Is Ruby on Rails Outsourcing?

Outsourcing generally means hiring talent from a third-party provider or company to create a product. The same is the case with RoR outsourcing. You partner with a Ruby on Rails development company to outsource your web development tasks to specialized developers other than your staff.

These hired RoR developers won’t be your regular employees, so they won’t work from your office. Instead, they can operate from anywhere in the world, working on their own terms or those set by the outsourcing company. 

Why Should You Consider Ruby on Rails Outsourcing?

Ruby on Rail developer outsourcing comes with many benefits for businesses. Here are four solid reasons you should consider this approach for your next development project:

Cost-Effectiveness

Hiring outsourced developers can help you save costs in many ways. First, you can save on wages. Since these individuals are not your regular employees, you only have to pay them for the work completed, not fixed full-time salaries.

Second, there won’t be additional costs, such as employee benefits, operational overhead, housing fees, software licenses, and infrastructure expenses. These individuals operate at their own or the RoR company’s expense where they’re employed.

Outsourcing also makes your budgeting more predictable, as you’ll have clear cost structures from your partner company beforehand.

Quick Access To Expertise

The biggest benefit of RoR outsourcing is access to a diverse talent pool of Ruby developers. This approach allows you to look beyond your local country and engage with professionals from different regions. 

When done right, outsourcing exposes your development team to unique skill sets and expertise. With a third party collaborating on the project, the developers can think from an angle they didn’t think of before.

Besides, Ruby on Rails development outsourcing eliminates the need to train the developers like you have to do with in-house developers. These individuals are already trained by the RoR outsourcing company you partnered with. 

In fact, they are also well-versed in the latest developments and tech trends, so you don’t have to worry about it, either.

Faster Time to Market

Recruitment is a tedious process. You post a job vacancy, narrow down the resumes, interview the candidates, and shortlist the best ones. But you still can’t find the one who matches your expectations. 

If you’ve gone through this, you’re not alone. According to a Robert Half survey, 88% of managers consider finding skilled professionals challenging.

That’s where outsourcing stands out. Collaborating with a reputable RoR outsourcing company means their experts will do the legwork for you. These companies already have vetted developers who ensure rapid product development and launch. 

In fact, many outsourcing companies have quality assurance (QA) teams, which perform unit testing to ensure code quality before the app’s launch. This gives your products an edge in the market.

Scalability

Businesses deal with varying project sizes. Things usually seem under control when there aren’t many leads, or you’re dealing with small projects. However, when leads start to build up, or you acquire bigger projects, you desperately search for more resources to cater to them. You can end up making a bad hire. 

With RoR outsourcing, you’ll always have access to a large talent pool of developers who come in handy whenever you need them. They will provide you with a backup without any long-term commitment. 

This ensures scalability, allowing you to adjust your resources based on project requirements. Another great benefit is the economies of scale. RoR development companies have established infrastructures that empower them to offer top-level development services at affordable rates. 

Key Considerations for Outsourcing Ruby on Rails Development

If you’re outsourcing RoR developers for the first time, you should consider a few factors to make the right choice for your business needs. Here are three critical aspects of choosing RoR web development services to give you a solid kickstart:

Define Your Project Requirements Clearly

Establishing your goals and requirements is the first step of every project, and it’s not so different with RoR outsourcing. If you’re hiring a developer for a specific task or project, you should first understand its requirements to make an informed outsourcing decision.

Here are some tips to define your RoR project requirements clearly:

• List the project’s purpose and target users’ stories.
• Evaluate any key functionality required for creating a minimum viable product — a product that attracts customers in the early development cycle.
• Find some great style, branding, and user experience elements according to the project’s requirements and see if they have any constraints.
• Outline any databases, platforms, and essential data or service integrations for the existing systems. 
• Determine all the milestones, phases, and estimated development timelines with room for scalability. 
• Don’t forget to develop the budget for the first release. Consider the ongoing costs as well as potential costs that may arise down the line. 

Establishing these goals initially will help you find an outsourcing partner that matches your expectations. 

Research and Select the Right Outsourcing Partner

Now comes the most crucial yet time-consuming task — finding and selecting the right RoR outsourcing company. A general rule of thumb is never to do this in a hurry. Instead, invest significant time into searching RoR developers on different freelance platforms. 

Upwork, Freelancer, and LinkedIn are great platforms to start from. Hundreds of Ruby development experts are there with complete profiles, portfolios, past projects, and client reviews. 

If you specifically want to partner with a web development agency, you can find a lead by browsing Clutch or GoodFirms’ directories.

But how can you know which RoR developer or agency best suits your business? Here are the criteria:

• Look for an agency with a proven track record of building similar RoR apps instead of the popular Node.js or Laravel. Always check the company’s portfolio, past projects, and client feedback.
• Ensure the company’s development process follows industry guidelines. You can easily find documentation for requirements collection, QA, architectural design, etc.
• Ensure your potential RoR partner is fluent in English and has access to modern collaboration tools for smooth workflow.
• Never underestimate cultural compatibility. Ensure your chosen provider shares your values and is transparent about contributing to your project’s success.
• Determine the development team size, prices, scalability, and turnover of the RoR outsourcing company.

Remember, finding the best RoR outsourcing company requires a careful approach. So, don’t hesitate to conduct multiple trials and errors to find a partner who will have your back in the long run. 

Establish Clear Communication Channels

Communication is the key to a project’s success, even more so if it’s related to app development. Developers collaborate closely with different teams in a business, whether it’s QA, marketing, or design. 

Since an outsourced RoR developer isn’t available in-house, establishing communication channels will allow your external development teams to coordinate with the internal ones. 

So, when outsourcing RoR development, analyze the communication tools, platforms, and channels different companies use. Slack, Skype, Zoom, and Mattermost are some great collaboration tools. 

Conclusion

RoR outsourcing is a cost-effective way to include a specialized developer in your team without making long-term commitments. This especially comes in handy when you suddenly have a surge in projects and insufficient resources to cater to them.

However, finding the right outsourcing company can be a challenge. Always set your RoR project’s expectations first, search different platforms, and establish communication channels to make an informed decision.

Need assistance? Connect with Flatirons’ Ruby on Rails experts to discuss your concerns and project requirements. Our dedicated team will address all your questions to help you complete your Ruby development projects with maximum success.